Seth Curry on Steph's shadow, joining Durant & Kyrie, Embiid for MVP | The Draymond Green Show

Hi, it's Colin Cowherd. I started The Volume to bring you some of the most authentic voices in sports.

While you're here, make sure you hit subscribe.

Thanks.

All right, so as y'all know, number one, welcome back to the Draymond Green Show. Like we said last week, we're splitting the show up into two different segments. And today we have the player guest segment of the show. I'm honored to have this next guest on the show. Actually a guy who, when he came into the league, started his career, his first training camp with us, which I look back on that now and you see the player that he's become and you have to sit and think and wonder like, man, how did he get away from us? Number one, it's just like, when you think of the word nepotism,— it's alive and well, and especially all through the NBA. So even from a nepotism standpoint, it should have been this way. And then if we took advantage of that, we would have this guy and we'd automatically win a championship with what he's bringing to the court. But we didn't even take advantage of that. And we lost out on this guy. And I actually have the utmost respect for him because he didn't get it that way, because he went and got it out the mud. Yeah. To the G League, into the league, back to the G League, into the league, back to the G League. And then he made his way. This next guest, my brother Seth Curry. What's up, bro? Welcome to the Draymond Green Show.

Yes, sir. What's going on, man?

Just chilling, man. Number one, like I was just saying, what was it for you that drove you to like, I think most people would've said, no, Steph, you can like, you can 100% make sure I'm on a team. Make sure I'm on a team. Y'all had the same same agent, the agent can say, "Hey, no, make sure he's on a team." You never wanted it that way. What was it that drove you to make you go get it out the mud the way you did?

I've always been that way. I know Steph, having a brother like him has his perks, especially the more he goes upward and upward and gets more power within the league. But kind of my whole life, I kind of wanted to separate myself a little bit. That's one of the reasons I didn't, decided not to go to Davidson out of high school. I wanted to kind of make my own mark, be my own person, and really kind of earn everything, everything that I get. So I think just having it that way has made me a better player in the long run, just 'cause I've really embraced my journey and really had to, like I said, had to grind, had to work for every single thing. So I don't really take it for granted.

Absolutely. And speaking of not going to Davidson out of high school, you went to Liberty. And take us on that journey to Liberty. You went and totally dominated, especially as a freshman, leading all freshmen in scoring with 20 a game. Take us on that journey to Liberty and you going there and what other schools did you pick against as well?

I had like 2 or 3 offers outta high school. So I was, I mean, I committed to Liberty after my junior year in high school. I think if I would've waited and played it out, I would've had some more offers. 'Cause I just, made a little jump going into my senior year in high school, but I had a good relationship with the coach at the time at Liberty, Richie McKay. I knew he was going to put the ball in my hands and give me opportunity to improve my game and show what I can do. So I went to the place that, like I said, gave me opportunity to display my skills and what I could do, and that was at Liberty, just that system and doing— and like I said, I made a big jump, and that really propelled me to who I am today and given me that confidence that I can— I could play against the best at the high school level. And I mean, at the college level, and I'll figure it out as I go along.

You then go to Liberty, you dominate. How did the process go for you ending up at Duke? Like, did you—

Yeah.

Did they just come right after you at Liberty? Did you open up that you wanted to transfer and they came after you along with other schools? How did that process work out?

Yes, I was at Liberty, so I had a great, non-conference run. I mean, I was averaging a lot of points doing my thing. We got into conference play and they were sending double teams, triangling twos at me. And it just, it wasn't a good style of basketball for me to play. It wasn't fun. I was, you hear that frustration that Kevin been talking about over the past few weeks of sending traps at him as he comes across half court. That was me all throughout conference play. So I was like, man, I gotta go somewhere where I can play some real basketball. Be around some better teammates and play just at a higher level. So I opened up my recruitment. I just said I was transferring. I didn't know where I was gonna go. My dad obviously did some research of some options that I would have. But once I decided I was gonna transfer, I knew I wanted to play in the ACC somewhere. And Duke came calling. I stepped on campus. Coach put the JJ Redick videos up, put the voodoo on me, and I didn't make it out. Out of his office without a commitment. So yeah, it just worked out that way.

That's insane. As a kid from Charlotte, growing up in the state of North Carolina, you got North Carolina, Duke. We all know how that goes. I'm not sure with the way that y'all lives were set up, like y'all were more of an NBA family. So I'm not sure if y'all grew up North Carolina or Duke. I would love to know that, but Like that gotta be a dream come true. Like as a North Carolina kid, you're then going to Duke.

Yeah, man.

Like we all wanted to go to Duke as kids, bro. Like I've been a, Michigan State was my dream school. But at some point in life you like, yo, you wanna play for Coach K at Duke? Like that's a big deal. I know that had to be insane as a North Carolina kid who also, it seemed like you would never have that opportunity as well.

Yeah, it's, I mean, we grew up in Tobacco Road, right up the street in Charlotte. So I think you said we around the NBA game, but being, growing up in North Carolina, it's college basketball first. So it's North Carolina, it's Duke, it's NC State, those type of schools that, I mean, it's just something special about those rivalries. So growing up watching those games, Being on campus at Duke, like you said, walking in Coach K's office, it was a real feeling. My mom was around, she was in his office crying. I'm like, "Yo, you gotta relax. Like, it's a recruiting visit." She's in there in tears 'cause we're at Duke and it's hard to believe. But yeah, it was a dream come true to really put on that Duke blue and play. Growing up, I was a— I really liked both teams. I wouldn't say I favored Duke over North Carolina. I just liked going to the— to the tournament games when they were in Greensboro for the most part. And yeah, now it's all Duke now.

And speaking of Duke, you get the chance to team up with Kyrie Irving again.

Yeah.

Like, in totally different spaces of y'all lives, totally different players than y'all were then, what's that been like now? And I know it's been a small sample size, it's very fresh, But what's that been like now coming full circle and teammates in the NBA?

It's been great. We only played, what, 10, 11 games together in college, obviously with his injury, but—

I was one of them games.

Yeah, yeah, I remember that. Yeah, facts. But nah, yeah, I mean, it's been smooth since we hit the ground running. Both of us guys, obviously high IQ guys. Burt can do a lot, can play on the ball, off the ball. He's an unselfish guy, even though he puts up scores on the ball at a high clip, he'll get a ball up and let you play freely. So we're figuring out as we go along, obviously our team is changing week by week, but it's been fun, man, just watching him play, watch him work on his game, stay sharp. It's making me better at the same time.

And KD as well. Like I've had the opportunity to play with KD As you know, I always say KD is, if somebody told you go in the lab and create a player, you're gonna create somebody who's 6'10" that can dribble, that can shoot, that's fast, that can jump. You're gonna go create Kevin Durant.

Mm-hmm.

Like for you, especially with the role that you played in the NBA, which I wanna talk more about, But with the role that you've played in the NBA, for you, that gotta be a dream come true. I mean, teams are sending double teams at him. Like, for you, that gotta be a dream come true. And he can pass the ball. What's that been like building that chemistry with him and just like figuring out how he work? 'Cause I think that takes some getting used to as well. Like, people, like the way K work and the way he approached basketball, it takes some getting used to and you could be still adjusting to it.

Yeah, he's a, I mean, It's easy for me 'cause he's a basketball guy. He loves the game. He enjoy the game. He's, that's what he's all about. So I think he, when you come to a team that he's on and he knows you're another guy who's a basketball junkie, who lives for the game, who has a smart IQ, he gonna respect you. So I feel like, yeah, I'm watching him every day, watching his work ethic, which is, I know you already talked about it a lot of times on your podcast, but it's crazy to see him work, the detail he puts into his, his craft on a daily basis and see that translate into games. It's not like he just a 6'10" guy with all the talent and he just goes out there and it's going to be easy for him. He puts in the work and behind closed doors, and that's on display every night. So it was a little adjustment early on playing with him, figuring out his spots that he likes to ball on, figuring out just how to play pick and roll with him, things like that. But I mean, after a couple games, it's been pretty smooth. And I feel like that's one of my good attributes is I play with a lot of different types of star players and I've been able to fit in well. That's about, that's gonna allow me to have longevity in this league is being able to adapt my game to the type of star talent I'm playing with at the time.

I think it's special when you look at, you play with Luka.

Yeah.

Steph, Dame, KD, Kyrie, Joel, Ben, like—

Yeah, all those types. And they were all, I mean, every time I left, they all seemed like they really enjoyed playing with me. Something I take pride in. 'Cause I said it before, like a guy like me, I'm not gonna be a star player on the team. So for me to make my mark, I gotta make the game easier for those guys. And that's where I become useful.

Speaking of being a star player, has it ever bothered you that your name has never been mentioned in like, or like you've never been top 2 in most improved player? 'Cause I think when you look at awards like that, like you're averaging 15 points a game, you went from undrafted to averaging 15 points, meaningful points a game and a starter in the league and like, Like in my mind, you tipped the trade. Like the trade that happened with Brooklyn and the Nets, you tipped that trade. Like that's like, I'm sure if I could have been in those rooms, that was a huge key going on in the trade or whether you was gonna be involved in the trade or not. For you to go from undrafted to where you are in the league, you're an asset. You're a starter in this league. We know what you're bringing. On most years you're leading the league in 3-point shooting, which 3-point shooting is what runs this NBA right now. Does it bother you that you've never been in those conversations? I know it fucking bothers me.

Yeah, I mean, I would like to be in the discussion, obviously. I don't think, I mean, obviously you wanna be recognized for what you put into work and how you've shown that every year. But I think the main reason my, just my overall counting stats hasn't, had a huge jump from year to year. I've gotten incrementally better every single year. It's not like I went and doubled my numbers from one year to the next. So I mean, I'm incrementally getting better. My efficiency is pretty good every single year, and that's what I pride myself on. So it's not like I have a— I think my usage rate just hasn't gone crazy, which is the main reason. So just the— Yeah. Especially just 'cause of the role I've been in over certain seasons where I had to jump like that. But I mean, I know who I am as a player, the organizations I've been to, the fan bases know what I bring every night and the people who watch me play every night. So I think that's what means the most to me.

Absolutely. I mean, that's definitely a special thing. I mean, I guess you make a great point about incrementally getting better, but I still like to look at entire bodies of work as well. And I also think that you've had years where you went from averaging 3 points to 11 or 10 or 11. Like that, those are huge jumps. It's like, that's not easy to do. That's a totally different player. That's somebody who probably end up playing in 41 games in the season, 46 games in the season. And somebody who go to playing every single night and producing at that level. So I think that's a big thing. Yeah.

Another thing, I think I've played even better come playoff time. I think I had some really good playoff moments, playoff series that go from like playing regular season basketball, which is one thing, but taking that to another level in the playoffs where it's a totally different level of basketball and obviously on a bigger stage and it's harder to play well in the playoffs. So—

Yeah, it is.

Like, so that's another thing that's, It's probably a little underappreciated.

Absolutely. I mean, hey man, I shoot a pretty high percentage from 3 in the playoffs, man. Everybody tell me I can't shoot, but I make 'em when they matter.

So it's all good. Hey, you got enough.

I think in, like, I'm with Clutch. So I've had the opportunity to watch Rich work. I've had the opportunity Maverick's my big brother. Like I've had the opportunity to watch him work and be around him. Randy, you look at those guys and how people think because they're like, because them and LeBron all came up together, that people think just because they came up with LeBron, that Rich Paul is who he is because he came in with LeBron.

Right.

That Maverick Carter is who he is that Randy is who he is because— And the reality is LeBron gave a platform, but you have to take advantage of that platform. In turn, what people end up doing is they end up using LeBron against you. Like, oh well, he only can do that because he got LeBron James. And now you have to prove to people your worth times 2 on what you already have done because people using LeBron James against you. I feel like— people has used Steph against you. Do you feel some of that in this league or where you've had to like overproduce and overshow what you were capable of due to Steph being who he is?

Oh, absolutely. I said a lot early on, if my name was Joe Smith, I would've been in the league a long time ago. But I think like you said, sometimes those connections and who you are can get you in the door. It comes a time when you gotta produce every day. You gotta bring value or they gonna get you outta there. So like I said, you gotta have some stuff, substance with who you are. Usually, actually, those connections are great and being around those people, obviously learning from Steph, being able to ask him questions, just following his journey, and it gives me a huge leg up, a benefit, 'cause I got a guy who's been through a lot of the grinds and I can, like I said, I can pick his brain and I can, more importantly, just watch what he does. And add it to myself, but I gotta mold that to who I am and I gotta bring value to the team or to whatever I'm doing myself. So it's some pros and cons to, like you said, to being the younger brother of Steph and the son of Del.

Absolutely. I mean, yeah, I can see that. But speaking of that, obviously, The world knows that you're married to Callie. Y'all are the parents of two beautiful children, which obviously makes Doc your stepfather.

Yeah.

I mean, stepfather, father-in-law.

Right, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Father-in-law. Did you have any problems separating the two? Like, especially going into the trade, like, did that bother you that you was being traded away from a team that Doc was coaching? Or was it just like, nah, that's a part of the business for you?

Nah, so it's a part of the business, man. I know he not pulling the trigger or whatever. He's in the room, so whatever, he gonna give his input, but he's not pulling the trigger. But the whole time I was there, it was smooth sailing. I mean, we went in the gym, it was business as usual. We had a job to do. Yeah, I mean, Callie didn't want to get traded. She didn't want to have to deal with it, playing for her father again. Obviously she dealt with it for a long time with her brother. That scrutiny and all the stress that went along with that. So it was a different situation, but it was smooth sailing. Doc, great coach. I had a great time playing for him. But when it was time to move on, it's a business. I understand it. And you go somewhere else and you do your job there.

Absolutely. And speaking of Cali and your dynamic, talk to me about being a father, man. I know for me, it's been like, It's been a total reset for me. Like having kids and what matters and selflessness, like learn, I mean, truly learning how to be selfless. Like I think those were some of the biggest adjustments for me. Talk to me about being a father and what that brings to you on a daily.

Oh, it's great. It's the best thing ever, man. You already know, like it's, It just brings peace when you come in the household. It's so much stress and stuff that come along with the job. When you come at home, it's— most of the time, it's peace, just being around your kids, watching them grow up every day, trying to mold them into the people that they should be. And for me, it's a learning process, man. I watch— I've got 3 nieces and nephews, so I watch— [SPEAKING CHINESE] the way Steph and Ayesha parented and kind of took some notes. But once I had my own kids, those kind of went out the window. I mean, you gotta learn on your own and do it your own way. So yeah, my daughter acts just like my wife. A lot of energy, talking up a storm. My son's like me, he just be chilling. Don't say a word, easygoing. So it's funny how that works out.

That's hilarious. Callie has to be one of the most competitive people I've ever met in my life.

Yeah.

I mean, between Peloton, she thinks she can beat me at Peloton. She thinks she can beat you at— I don't know, she probably do be beating you on Peloton.

She tough.

She be beating you, G?

She tough. Nah, she close, but she ain't messing with me on the Peloton. That's nah, no sir.

You recently just did something with Peloton, didn't you?

Yeah, I had a little deal with Peloton a couple months ago. Had my own, was a captain in one of the classes. With Alex Tucson. Yeah, it was a dope, dope experience.

That's fire. I wish, I think when I saw that y'all were doing that, my back was messed up. I haven't been on a Peloton since December. 'Cause I haven't been able to ride 'cause I'm like, they don't want me in a slouched position. 'Cause I would've loved to do that. That's dope. But speaking to Cali, man, like tell me more about these debates y'all be having, bro. 'Cause I done got a text a couple times like, "Seth said this, what are you thinking?" I'm like, I think I might've agreed with you on both of 'em. And she like, "Oh, both of y'all wrong." Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Coming from the family she come from, she probably the most competitive. She got all brothers. Obviously Doc in the family, they all athletes and they argue and compete about everything. So that's been carried over into my household. She talk more basketball than me, talk more sports than me. And I know, yeah, you already know how she is when it comes to arguments. And being competitive. So that's something that we enjoy in the household. It's like a game to us, just watching games, arguing, competing in all types of ways. So it's a fun element.

That's great, man. That's incredible. Man, talk to me about Coach K. This is his last season and going out against North Carolina, bro, like that's brutal, man.

That's tough.

Game 100 for all the marbles. The last, I mean, ACC championship and the Final Four.

Like, man, talk to me about Coach K and the legacy, man. K, my guy, man. It's tough. As former players and whatever, we just gotta accept the L. We see a Carolina player in the locker room, we gotta— ain't nothing we can say right now with taking the L at home and then losing to 'em in the Final Four. But I think getting to the Final Four, they held 'em down for the most part. It's tough to get to the Final Four. Just to send him out on that stage. I know it was tough for those guys this year, but I mean, K is my guy. He deserves all the accolades, all the credit, 'cause I mean, he made me into a big reason why I'm the man, the player I am today. Gave me the opportunity to play there, molded me, teach me about just the leadership, that competitive spirit, and just fitting into a team, doing things that are bigger than yourself and fit into a team. So hopefully he can relax when he gets out of there and he's not still stressed out about being a coach and he can relax and enjoy his time off.

Yeah, nah, he definitely deserve it, man. GOAT for sure.

Yeah.

I had the opportunity to play for K in the Olympics.

Yeah.

And I think, I think in watching Duke over the years, I think him coaching the Olympic team made him a much better coach. I think it allowed him to adjust with the times. Like a lot of big time college coaches like K, they struggle to adjust with the times. I think K made that adjustment gracefully. And I think in large part due to him coaching the USA team and you coaching NBA guys and you kind of gotta let them go. Could you see that, especially growing up Draymond Green, you watched him for so long. Could you see that transition when he started coaching the Olympic team?

Yeah, I agree 100%. I came in, so my first year there was like 2010, right after he started coaching the USA team. And he would always come back every summer. He would come back like a little bit of a different coach. You know what I'm saying? Just being around those guys, coaching those guys, he would come back with some different elements to him, how to deal with us as players, how to adjust. Adjust his coaching style a little bit to adapt to the way we are. But, yeah, he came back more energized more than anything. Being around greats like that during the summer coaching the USA team, that rubbed off on him just the way he rubbed off on those guys. And that allowed his last 10, 12 years or whatever of being a Duke coach to go to another level. To see the recruits he brought in, see the way he coached them, I think that extended his career. Yeah.

No, 100%. Speaking of the Nets, y'all are currently in 10th place, which I mean, I don't think it's neither here nor there. I think it's a lot of things that's happened over the course of the season, whether you talking about changing a team or I mean not changing the team, but like that was a big change. James going to Philly.

Yeah.

You and Ben, Draymond going to the Nets and kind of blending all that stuff back together. Like, 10 isn't indicative of the team that y'all have. I don't believe that. I do think in this play-in situation, y'all still gonna get in. But where, like, how is it going to work every day? Is the mindset like, yo, we know once we get there that, you know, we can put it together? Or is it a little sense of panic?

There was no panic. I mean, keep it a stack. Like, the reason we in 10th place is they went on like an 11, 12-game losing streak during the whole James thing. Kyrie was out, KD was out. So it's hard to bounce back from a 12-game losing streak and have a good position in the playoffs. But there's no panic. We know, we obviously know we got some things to fix. We gotta be better defensively to win no matter how good offensively you are. You gotta be able to get timely stops. You gotta be able to shut teams down for periods of time to advance in the playoffs, no matter who you got on the team. But we know we got a lot of talent in that locker room. We know we got KD and Kyrie who, when they step on the floor, they give you a chance against anybody no matter what. And as we go along, we're figuring out our roles. So hopefully we get a little bit more healthy going into the playing game, into the playoffs. And like I said, we confident as ever. We feel like we stack up well against anybody and we ready to strap 'em up.

Absolutely. I think, and speaking of the trade, to look at all that was going on and to see the positioning of the Brooklyn Nets, and then you look over and you see the positioning of the 76ers, I think that should add to Joel's MVP case. Ultimately, my MVP this year, my MVP pick is Devin Booker. With the way Book is playing, it's insane. They number one in the league by a long shot.

Yeah.

You can make your reasons, injuries, this, that, and the other. They've had injuries just like everybody else had injuries. They dealt with COVID But Book's play all year has been consistent. So my pick is Devin Booker. But I think that has to make more of a case for Joel and how, everything stayed together no matter what was going on. Because you can look on the opposite end and y'all are 40 and 38, you know? And so I think that makes it more of a case for him. What's your take on Joel, but the MVP conversation as a whole?

Joel is, I mean, he a worthy MVP candidate. Obviously the numbers he putting up crazy. Like you said, he held us together throughout the times where he could have went a lot of different ways dealing with the Ben situation. He was stable every night. He showed up to play and he was like, we got enough. He was the main guy. I was like, we got enough to win right now regardless. So, but at the same time, I don't want, he wasn't doing it by himself in Philly. We got, there was a lot of talent over there.

Absolutely not.

You know what I'm saying? He, it was, you got some teammates that were rolling with him that were playing well, playing as well as they ever played throughout the most of the regular season. So. He wanted to win it by himself, but I wanna see Joel get one. He deserves it. He's put in the work. He's gotten better. He did a much better job these past couple years taking care of his body.

Yeah.

Being available and yeah, he deserves it, like I said, but I mean, you got guys like Jokic, Giannis who are consistent in doing it every night too. So it's gonna be interesting to see who wins it just 'cause you never know, putting it in the media hands, man, you never know which way they gonna go.

Facts. And the reality is most, I wouldn't say most of the time, 'cause that'd be a lie, but in a lot of situations they go the wrong way. So I'll just leave it like that. A lot of situations they go the wrong way.

Yeah.

But who your pick though? You gotta pick one.

My pick?

You can't give me the diplomatic, I wanna see Joe get one, but Giannis consistent and Joker consistent. Who your pick for MVP?

Man, give me, yeah, give Joel. I'm going with Joel, man. Joel, like I said, he's turned it up. He's been consistent. He's improved, man. Like if you go, if it's that close between 3 people who, like I said, Joel, Jokic, Giannis, Book, gimme Joel. Seems in a good spot and he hadn't won one yet. So give him one. It ain't no fine science. It ain't like somebody should win it. It's no science to this. So nothing's fact, nothing's set in stone. So give him one. He hadn't got one yet. He deserves it, man.

I could roll with that. I think we've seen times where awards has been won and you like, that dude won that award. Because there was, it was just a safe pick. Like, you know, and they knew they could pick that and it'd be fine.

Yeah. My problem is there's no criteria. Every year the criteria is a little different. Every year it's more stats driven, analytics driven. Next year it's best team, best player. You know what I'm saying? So I understand why Book got a legitimate beef in himself.

No, I understand that too, because I mean, you're right. If you look at it, I think when Russ won MVP, they were like a 7 or 8 seed.

Yeah, they were a 6 seed.

Yeah, like, no, granted, that roster wasn't great. Like, it was not a great roster by any stretch of the imagination.

It wasn't a great roster, but it wasn't as bad as they made you, made it seem when K left either. They had Vic.

No, facts.

They had Sabonis. They had some guys over there too now.

Sabonis was young though. Like Sabonis was like his first or second year.

Okay, okay.

Vic was just leaving Orlando, figuring himself out. Like Vic really figured himself out for real, for real in Indiana. Like Orlando, he played good enough for us to know He was good. And then he got to OKC and it's like, all right, like, all right, yeah, he's still good. But then when he got to Indiana, he really took off. And so I think he also had those guys when they were a little younger as well though.

Yeah, I mean, listen, I ain't taking nothing away from Russell. Russell was a monster that year. He had a season unlike any other, but it's why you giving it to a 6th, 7th seed. That don't happen a lot, man. That's probably the first time I ever seen it. So what's the set criteria? Give me a set criteria that we living by every single year so we can be consistent.

I agree. I think something like that needs to happen just for the simple fact, like, you know, these awards and like first team, second team, third team, all NBA, like these things are decided —tens of millions of dollars. Like you talking about some cases where guys have lost out on $40 million due to these things. And it's just somebody who could, like somebody could possibly be mad at, like, I don't really like him because he ain't give me an interview. I'm not gonna vote. And cost this man $40 million.

I've seen it happen, bro.

Like, I think like you're 100% right. There should be, some type of criteria set for all of these awards, for all of these All-NBA teams and stuff. Because you have human beings that has very little contact with said human beings. And when I say very little contact, I mean they don't have the contact of someone in the front office that's ultimately deciding how much they pay you, right?

Yeah.

The contract offer they give you. But you're having these human beings hold the power of essentially deciding how much money someone can feed their family with.

Yeah.

And it's nothing, it's nothing that says you have to go about it this way. These are the things that matter. Fit someone into the square and that's who wins. It's nothing that says that. I think that's ridiculous.

Yes. It don't make a lot of sense, man, at all. Somebody gotta, somebody, yeah. Give me a set criteria or just take it out the hand. Play what you gonna play 'em and that's it.

Yeah. Yeah. I think, I don't know, man. A lot of things with this league bother me. I would just put it that way. I ain't gonna get myself fined today. I'm gonna just leave it at that. Yeah. But I don't wanna hold you for too much longer.

You got a tech last night. Say that, bruh.

I did get a tech last night, bro. You know why I got a tech last night, bro?

Y'all love 20. Hold on, man. Hold on, man. Y'all love 20. And you getting techs. What?

Look, I told the ref, I said, "That was dead wrong." And he gave me a tech. I said, that was dead wrong.

That's the second time I seen that happen to you, by the way, this year, where you were calm, you were just, you talking, said nothing crazy, you was talking in a loud voice, but you said nothing crazy and they give you a tech. This the second time I seen that happen to you this year, man.

Bro, it's crazy. It's crazy. And I ain't, you know, I try not to say I'm targeted. I, you know, I try not to say I'm targeted because I'm, I'm not like, I don't have that victim mindset. I'm not a loser, I win. And so just to have a victim mindset, I'm not that type of person. So I try not to make it like, oh, I'm being targeted, but I'm not a fucking idiot either. Like I know 2 2 4. Like I'm not dumb. You start talking about like, you know, there's human emotion involved in this. It's not like, again, there's some exact science that says, You say it X, Y, and Z, you get attacked. Like there's human emotion involved in this. And that's one of the things that kind of bothers me in the appeal process. It's like, it's no way possible I win 29 of, like I win 1 of every 30 appeals. There's no way possible when there's human, like there's a human being deciding this, and there's no criteria really set for it, there's no way possible I lose every single appeal. Because again, these are totally different human beings deciding the criteria. It has to be shifting one way or the other, depending on who the human being is. And yet you never win? It's impossible. And that's why I always say I don't even appeal them anymore.

You preach to the choir on the appeal process, man. They need to— I won't admit, they need to mic 'em up so they know the conversations that I had that warrant these texts. 'Cause they just, I got one, before this season I got, they might be on something this year. I got one tech in my career. It was for like an altercation, nothing crazy.

I remember that.

And this year I got 3 techs. I don't yell. I'm having real legitimate conversations about a call or whatever. I got a tech, I got 3 techs this year and none of them are warranted, but I don't know what's going on in the appeal process either. It's he said, she said, they can say whatever they want and I'm not getting my money back. So that strikes a little chord in me, man. It's crazy.

I agree. I agree with 100% what you saying, they should be mic'd up. Because all I ask for is just some accountability. Like ultimately it's like, bro, when I tell you I used to go through this appeal process, bro, I used to keep a tally of all my texts and I would write down exactly what happened in text, bro. And like I would literally tell them like, no, I deserve that one. I deserve this one. Yeah, I 100% deserve. I got my money's worth right here. This one, nope. This, this, and this happened. I didn't deserve this one. This, yeah, I 100% deserved it. Like, I would be 100% honest. 'Cause I mean, at the end of the day, it's a little fine. I've been fined a million times, whatever. Like, it's not that that bothers me. It's the lack of accountability that bothers me. It's one person get to say something and that's just that. That is a human being, bro. Human beings lie.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah. So this person just gets all the say and that's Bible? Like that's what's happening? That bothers me. 'Cause you have no real shot at defending against anything that's being portrayed on you. Like you have no real chance. You're appealing to the same group that gave you a fine, that like give you these texts. You're appealing to the same people. Like bring in, —like an outside counsel that'll peel these things. Mic the referees up. Because accountability is an issue.

Same thing with the replay process. Like, they make this call and then they review their call. So if it's— ain't nobody keeping— nobody else reviewing their call for 'em. So they got an ego themselves. They don't wanna admit in the heat of the moment in the game that they made a mistake. So they gonna find any angle to say I made the right call on the fly. I don't understand why. It should be pretty easy to have another outside referee review this call and make the right decision.

I agree, bro. Last night— Same as you. I got a tech for verticality. I mean, I got a foul call for verticality.

I saw it, yeah.

I go vertical. Dude jumped into my body this way. So when he hit my body on this side, this arm come down.

Yeah.

The referee tells me on the foul call, you weren't vertical, you were sliding into the space. They go to the monitor, but call the foul on my arm coming down. I wasn't sliding into the space. No, we challenged that your call was wrong, bro. 'Cause there's no way you could see this arm on this side. Actually, if you could see the arm on this side, him hitting this side of my body brought my body down. I went straight up. And even when my arm came down, it came down straight because it's just my body collapsing from taking the hit to my midsection.

Yeah.

But that doesn't make me an illegal defender because the dude hit me in my midsection Like naturally your body is gonna do this. And so what you called the foul on me for, you going to the replay and saying, "Oh, but you did do that." Well, we can say that about any call in the history of the NBA. I don't know, man. Some of these things, I feel like they just be like checking the box and they really ain't like to the benefit of the game.

Yes. It's humans with no accountability. That's all at the end of the day, man. Just accountability like it is on us every night.

Absolutely. Hey, now just before we get outta here, man, what last thing I'm gonna ask is, what is it for you at the end of your career where you can look back and say, like some of the things that you still wanna accomplish that you can look back and say, I checked that box off. I'm cool with riding off into the sunset. You know, like I think in our careers, I think we all have some things that we chase where you like, all right, when I do X, Y, and Z, at that point, I'm truly just playing for the love of the game. Like I done checked all the boxes I wanna check as a competitor. What is that for you?

For me, man, I'm not really a goal, write a goal and check it off list. I'm a process-type person. I wake up every day, try to make the most of it, and at the end of the season, I know if I approach stuff the right way. So it's hard for me to say, "I want to do this. I want to do this. I want to do this." You know, that's not the way I approach it on a daily basis. That's not the way I got here. So for me, it's about making the most of every day, approaching every day, every week the right way, and when I look back, I know within myself if I accomplished everything I could accomplish with my— with my skillset, with my opportunities. And that is what it is. It's just about, I know within myself and I feel if I did it the right way or not. So something I gotta live with. And so far it's been working out for me to this point.

Alaa, one final question. The Brooklyn Nets has to do, the Brooklyn Nets has to do what to win the championship this year?

Ooh, that's a good question. To win the championship, we gotta, we gotta gel. We gotta come together as a team and offensively and defensively do everything together. I mean, like you said, it's a new group, middle of the season. We got 2, 3 new starters. Everybody's getting to know each other. Kai just came back full-time. A lot of guys coming back from injury. We gotta do it together. Like I said earlier, we got a talented team, a lot of firepower, but in the playoffs, everybody got that. So you gotta gel, you gotta come together, and it's gonna be some adversity we gotta, like we're dealing with now, but we really a team, we gotta fight through it.

No doubt, no doubt. My brother, I appreciate you coming on, man. It's an honor and a pleasure. Like I said at the top of the show, man, I know we don't talk often, but— You know, I'll put stuff on Instagram story here and there.

Hell yeah.

But like, I respect your grind, bro. I think with where you are in your career and the route that you've gone. And like I said, I always tell, like try to tell younger guys and like second round picks and undrafted guys, like I identify more with those guys than I do the stars. Like I came in this thing as a second round pick. Nobody gave me a chance. We started winning and my path changed. You know what I'm saying? I identify with guys like you and like myself that's really had to get it out the mud and nobody gave us shit coming into this league. And to see where you've taken your career, bro, in spite of battling the name Curry, like most people think that's a badge of honor. And obviously all our last names are a badge of honor, but people just think that's a golden ticket. And I know the battle that that brought for you. 'Cause I watched it. You know what I'm saying? I watched you come play well in the NBA and end up back in the G League because somebody really don't wanna take the chance because your last name Curry and you not Steph. Like that's dumb as hell. And so I've seen that. And I just wanted to say, bro, I appreciate your game. It's been an honor to watch you grow, bro. And keep going, my dog.

Yes, sir. I appreciate it. And before I get outta here, I wanna say everything you doing, man, keep going. Love to see it. Love to see you. One of my favorite people to compete against too. I remember a few years ago I was in Portland. You came into the game, you was talking shit to me and I was loving it, man. You was talking shit. I was like, "Oh, I might be here now. I might be making a little mark." Draymond talked some shit to me trying to get in my head during the game. So I'm doing something right, man. So—

Hey, absolutely. Absolutely. I tell y'all what, man. This is one of the one guys I— in this league that I can honestly say, I mean, if we play in the NBA Finals, I may have to lay you out because of this. But this is one of the one guys in the league, Steph, don't kill me for this, that get the better of Steph. I'm just throwing that out there. I don't know, y'all go watch the matchups. I'm just throwing that out there. This is the one guy who we be playing against and I just can't come clothesline him and he come getting the better of Steph, man. I don't like it. "I don't like it.

I don't like it." We was talking crazy one game in the, it might've been the playoffs in Portland or whatever. One game we was talking crazy at the free throw line. And I'm not Steph, I'll talk back to you. I enjoy it. You know what I'm saying? I ain't gonna just go play my game. I'm gonna talk back. I'm gonna say my piece. Steph was at the free throw line, like in between us, he was acting all awkward. He didn't know what to do. I'm his brother. You his guy he'd been going to war with for 10 years. He ain't, Steph ain't know what to do with the line. I could, but I was loving it though, my guy.

Absolutely. That's the best, man. That's always the fun part for me. I appreciate you, bro.

All right, bro.